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    Under the Dark Sky: Life in the Thames River Basin
    Under the Dark Sky: Life in the Thames River Basin
    Under the Dark Sky: Life in the Thames River Basin
    Ebook92 pages28 minutes

    Under the Dark Sky: Life in the Thames River Basin

    By Steven G. Smith

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    About this ebook

    Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Steven G. Smith showcases the picturesque Thames River basin, which extends from southern Massachusetts through Connecticut to the Long Island Sound. The river and its watershed help define the borders of a valley that is unique among its East Coast neighbors, considered to be the last place where dark night sky can be viewed between Washington, D.C. and the Boston metro area. Locals like to call the area the "Quiet Corner" or the "Last Green Valley." In 1994, the U.S. Congress designated parts of the area as a Natural Heritage Corridor because it is one of the last remaining stretches of green in the area and boasts some of the largest unbroken forests in southern New England. This full-color documentary photo essay explores this Atlantic gem, through the faces of the people and the landscapes. An excellent gift and an educational resource, the book includes a foreword by noted outdoor writer Steve Grant.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWesleyan University Press
    Release dateMay 8, 2018
    ISBN9780819578419
    Under the Dark Sky: Life in the Thames River Basin
    Author

    Steven G. Smith

    Steven G. Smith is a Pulitzer Prize-winning multimedia photojournalist and associate professor of visual journalism at the University of Connecticut. His work has appeared in numerous prominent media organizations, including The New York Times, USA Today, National Geographic Channel, CNN and Smithsonian Magazine.

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      Book preview

      Under the Dark Sky - Steven G. Smith

      UNDER THE DARK SKY

      UNDER THE DARK SKY

      Life in the Thames River Basin

      of Eastern Connecticut & South Central Massachusetts

      A PHOTO ESSAY BY STEVEN G. SMITH

      FOREWORD BY STEVE GRANT

      Wesleyan University Press

      Middletown, Connecticut

      Published by Wesleyan University Press, Middletown, CT 06459

      www.wesleyan.edu/wespress

      Copyright © 2018 by Steven G. Smith

      Foreword Copyright © 2018 by Steve Grant

      All rights reserved

      Published in 2018. First edition.

      Designed by Steven G. Smith

      Printed in China

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request

      Hardcover ISBN: 978-0-8195-7840-2

      Ebook ISBN: 978-0-8195-7841-9

      ON THE COVER: The glow of sunrise contrasts against the dark night sky on Bigelow Pond in the northern reaches of the Thames River Basin near Union, Connecticut. This part of the valley is considered to be the last stretch of dark night sky viewed by the massive population between Washington, D.C. and the Boston metro area. Bigelow Pond is a 24-acre lake in Bigelow Hollow State Park, which, along with adjoining the Nipmuck State Forest, offers 9,000 acres of forested woodlands.

      To all the lovers of New England and to the people who appreciate quiet, understated beauty

      To my wife, Gwyn, and my two boys, Luke and Cole, thank you for your willingness to journey with me

      Granite boulders mark the edge of Bush Meadow Brook in the northern corner of Connecticut. In 1994, the U.S. Congress designated a 35-town area in eastern Connecticut and south-central Massachusetts as a National Heritage Corridor. It was recognized because it is one of the last remaining stretches of green in the region and boasts some of the largest unbroken forests in southern New England.

      Green by day and dark at night, this corridor is a relatively undeveloped notch in the midst of the most urbanized region in the nation. By day, green fields and forests confirm the surprisingly rural character of our towns. At night, the region appears distinctively dark amid the urban and suburban glow when viewed from satellites or aircraft.

      — LyAnn Graff, The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor

      The summer celebrations held by the city of Putnam, Connecticut, include the Riverfire event on the Quinebaug River. Bonfires are lit on flotillas while the town folk sit on the banks and enjoy music and an evening out. The Thames River has 17 tributaries, including the Quinebaug River, which flows for 69 miles.

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